MaineCare Notice of Agency Waiver Amendments -Section 21 & 29

SECTION 21:
Notice of Agency Waiver Amendment, MaineCare Benefits Manual, Section 21, Home and Community Benefits for Members with Intellectual Disabilities or Autism Spectrum Disorder
Feb 27, 2026
The Division of Policy posts all proposed and recently adopted rules on MaineCare’s Policy and Rules webpage. This website keeps the rules on file until they are finalized and until the Secretary of State website is updated to reflect the changes. The MaineCare Benefits Manual is available on-line at the Secretary of State’s website.
Below, please find a MaineCare Notice of Agency Waiver Amendment. You can access the complete rule at http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/oms/rules/index.shtml.
____________________________________________________________________________
Notice of Agency Waiver Amendment
AGENCY:  Department of Health and Human Services, MaineCare Services
RULE TITLE OR SUBJECT: Chapter 101, MaineCare Benefits Manual, Section 21, Home and Community Benefits for Members with Intellectual Disabilities or Autism Spectrum Disorder
WAIVER: ME.0159, Home and Community Services for Adults with Intellectual Disabilities or Autism Spectrum Disorder
CONCISE SUMMARY: The proposed changes include the following:
Waiver Appendix C

• The Department is updating service specification requirements for Direct Care Worker staff to reflect changes in the certification curriculum and ongoing training requirements.
• The amendment also updates the annual limits (caps) on combined services in Appendix C-4.

Waiver Appendix F-3

• The Department is updating its grievance procedures for members served under any of the 1915(c) waivers to comply with new Federal requirements Ensuring Access to Medicaid Services (CMS-2442-F)  (Access Final Rule, CMS 2442-F).  The Office of Aging and Disability Services (OADS) is promulgating rules related to the new grievance process.

Waiver Appendix J

• Updates Cost Neutrality and Derivation of Estimates for Waiver Years 1 through 5.

Finally, as part of this waiver submission, the Department has made technical revisions, formatting updates, and other non-substantive changes to the application. Please see the accompanying draft application for a complete list of all proposed changes included in the waiver amendment. 
DHHS is accepting comments through 11:59 pm, March 29, 2026. Any interested party may obtain a copy of the waiver amendment by going to the website noted below or at any regional Office for Family Independence (a list of the offices and locations can be found at this link http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/ofi/offices/index.html).
A printed copy may be obtained by calling Lisa Weaver at (207) 624-4050 or emailing [email protected].
See http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/oms/rules/index.shtml for waiver amendment and to submit comments.
STATUTORY AUTHORITY:              42 CFR §441.304
DEADLINE FOR COMMENTS:        Comments must be received by 11:59 pm, March 29, 2026.
AGENCY CONTACT PERSON:         Heather Bingelis, Comprehensive Health Planner II
AGENCY NAME:                                MaineCare Services
ADDRESS:                                           109 Capitol Street, 11 State House Station
                                                              Augusta, Maine 04333-0011
                                                              [email protected]
 
TELEPHONE:                                    207-624-4951 FAX: (207) 287-1864 TTY: 711

SECTION 29:
MaineCare Notice of Agency Waiver Amendment, MaineCare Benefits Manual, Section 29, Support Services for Adults with Intellectual Disabilities or Autism Spectrum Disorder
Feb 27, 2026
The Division of Policy posts all proposed and recently adopted rules on MaineCare’s Policy and Rules webpage. This website keeps the rules on file until they are finalized and until the Secretary of State website is updated to reflect the changes. The MaineCare Benefits Manual is available on-line at the Secretary of State’s website.
Below, please find a MaineCare Notice of Agency Waiver Amendment. You can access the complete rule at http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/oms/rules/index.shtml.
____________________________________________________________________________
Notice of Agency Waiver Amendment
AGENCY:  Department of Health and Human Services, MaineCare Services
RULE TITLE OR SUBJECT: Chapter 101, MaineCare Benefits Manual, Section 29, Support Services for Adults with Intellectual Disabilities or Autism Spectrum Disorder
WAIVER: ME.0467, Support Services for Adults with Intellectual Disabilities or Autism Spectrum Disorder
CONCISE SUMMARY: The proposed changes include the following:
Waiver Appendix C

• The Department is updating service specification requirements for Direct Care Worker staff to reflect changes in the certification curriculum and ongoing training requirements.
• The amendment also updates the annual limits (caps) on combined services in Appendix C-4.

Waiver Appendix F-3

• The Department is updating its grievance procedures for members served under any of the 1915(c) waivers to comply with new Federal requirements Ensuring Access to Medicaid Services (CMS-2442-F)  (Access Final Rule, CMS 2442-F).  The Office of Aging and Disability Services (OADS) is promulgating rules related to the new grievance process.

Waiver Appendix J

• Updates Cost Neutrality and Derivation of Estimates for Waiver Years 1 through 5.

Finally, as part of this waiver submission, the Department has made technical revisions, formatting updates, and other non-substantive changes to the application. Please see the accompanying draft application for a complete list of all proposed changes included in the waiver amendment. 
DHHS is accepting comments through 11:59 pm, March 29, 2026. Any interested party may obtain a copy of the waiver amendment by going to the website noted below or at any regional Office for Family Independence (a list of the offices and locations can be found at this link http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/ofi/offices/index.html).
A printed copy may be obtained by calling Lisa Weaver at (207) 624-4050 or emailing [email protected].
See http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/oms/rules/index.shtml for waiver amendment and to submit comments.
STATUTORY AUTHORITY:              42 CFR §441.304
DEADLINE FOR COMMENTS:        Comments must be received by 11:59 pm, March 29, 2026.
AGENCY CONTACT PERSON:         Heather Bingelis, Comprehensive Health Planner II
AGENCY NAME:                                MaineCare Services
ADDRESS:                                           109 Capitol Street, 11 State House Station
                                                              Augusta, Maine 04333-0011
                                                               [email protected]